The Boston Celtics are clearly rebuilding. They traded Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets, allowed Doc Rivers to leave for the Los Angeles Clippers (in return for a first-round draft pick) and obviously understand a championship isn't in the cards next season. They won't admit to tanking – because, A.) they're not really openly doing so, unless a fire sale happens before opening night, and B.) what type of competitor would? – but deep down, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge knows the Celtics will get worse before any real improvement takes place.

All of that helped make first-round pick Kelly Olynyk's thoroughly impressive summer league seem even more important to fans. Tears were shed when Pierce and Garnett got traded, hopelessness set in when thinking of the team's prospects for next season, and then a baby-faced 22-year old Canadian, whose hairdo could have served as the inspiration for Legolas in Lord of the Rings, dominated in Orlando, Fla.

Olynyk showcased a complete arsenal of offensive skills, averaged 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and drilled a few fadeaway jumpers that changed Boston's collective mentality at least briefly from "How bad might this team be?" to "Wow, this dude occasionally completes maneuvers somewhat reminiscent of Dirk Nowitzki." Olynyk's emergence seemed to be taken as a reminder that perhaps rebuilding won't be all bad. In fact, parts of it – like watching how a late lottery pick, with limited athleticism but all types of polish, develops – could even be exciting.

So when news hit Monday that plantar fasciitis will force Olynyk to skip playing with the Canadian national team this summer, it came as a cruel strike. The condition, relatively common among professional athletes, causes sometimes intense pain in the sole of a foot.

Kelly Olynyk has plantar fasciitis. And my day was just ruined. via @Eric__Smith

A quote from Team Canada coach Jay Triano, reported in the Toronto Star, seemed to indicate Olynyk's absence from the roster was caused at least partially by the Celtics, who want their rookie to exercise caution this summer. The Boston Globe's Baxter Holmes cited a source close to the situation who explained, "Nothing too serious, but (Olynyk) just needs to rest and recover."

Plantar fasciitis is tough for athletes to handle because it generally requires a lot of rest, and, in the case of NBA players, ain't nobody got time for rest. Still, Olynyk developed the plantar fasciitis at the preferred time of year. It will presumably hinder his development to an extent (he has said he planned to spend plenty of time working on athleticism and 3-point shooting this summer), but he can afford to approach the situation with caution since the Celtics won't open their season for another three months.